Metallic railway-tie



( No Model.)

T. R.- DUNNING.

METALLIC RAILWAY TIE. N0. 406,129. Patented July 2; 1889.

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- top plate or cover and serve to retain the blocks in position.

UNITED STATES THEODORE R. DUNNING, or

PATENT OFFICE.

MIDDLETOWVN, NEWV YORK.

M ETALLIC RAI LWAY-Tl E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 406,129, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed March 15, 1889. Serial No. 303,458- (Ilo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE R. DUNNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Railway-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in metallic railway-ties; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a railway-tie embodying'my improvement. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same on the line as x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on a plane at right angles to Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detailed perspective views of the studs to secure the rails on the tie. Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views of a modified form of my invention.

The lower part of the tie forms a hollow trough A, which is made of a single piece of wrought or cast iron, and comprises the bottom B, the Vertical sides 0, and the outwardextending flanges D at the upper edges of the said sides. A cover E or top plate is provided, which is arranged on the upper side of the tie, is adapted to close the same, and has its edges curved downward to form depending flanges F, which extend over the flanges D. In the said flanges D and in the top plate or cover are made longitudinal openings G, which are adapted to register with each other when the top plate or cover is in position on the tie. Under the openings G of the tie, and in alignment therewith, are openings II, which are made in the sides of the tie. The top plate or cover may be made of steel, iron, or other suitable metal.

A pair of metallic (preferably cast-iron) supporting-blocks I are placed in the tie at suitable distances from the ends thereof, and are arranged transversely in the same and between the openings G. Projecting from the lower and upper sides of the said supporting-blocks are studs K, which extend through openings in the bottom of the tie and in the The rails L, which are of the usual construction, are arranged transversely on the tie, bear upon the top plate or cover thereof, and are arranged between the openings G. In order to secure the rails on the tie, I provide T-headed studs M, which havethe lower portions of their shanks reduced to form narrow necks N, near their lower T-shaped heads, and having right-angled arms 0 at their upper end adapted to bear on the base-flanges of the rails, while the T-heads of the studs pass through the openings G, and are arranged transversely under the flanges D when the studs are turned in such position as to cause their arms to bear on the rail-flanges. edgeshaped split spring-keys P (made of steel) are inserted point downward through the openings G, bear against the outer sides of the stud, and clamp the latter firmly in place against the sides of the rails, and the lower ends of the spring-keys are bent outward, as shown in Fig. 2, and caused to engage the flanges D, and thereby retain them in place. In this manner the rails are fastened securely to the tie and to the top plate or cover thereof, and the lat ter is secured firmly in position on the tie.

If preferred, bolts R may be inserted in aligned openings S at points in the top plate and in the flanges D between the rails.

' It will be understood from the foregoing that the supporting-blocks are arranged directly under the rails and serve to sustain the weight of passing trains, thereby relieving the tie of a very considerable portion of the strain to which it is otherwise subjected, and hence enabling the tie to be made much lighter and of very much less material than would other- 'wise be possible, and consequently reducing the cost of the tie to a corresponding extent. I do not desire to limit myself to the precise arrangement of devices hereinbefore described, as modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I illustrate a modified form of studs to secure the rails on the tie, in which I provide said studs with eyes M at their lower ends, in lieu of the T-heads, and employ bolts M to pass through said eyes and through the sides of the tie to pivoi'ally receive the studs in place. at the upper ends of the studs engage the base- The hooks or arms 4 [0 scribed.

52. The tie made of metal and having its up per side open, in combination with. the top plate or cover on the upper side of the tie, and the snpporting-blooks arranged trans- I 5 ve'rsely in the tie and bearing on. the cover at points below the track-rails, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the hollow metallie tie and the removable cover or top plate, of the supporting-blocks arranged in the tie and having the studs engaging openings in the ties and top plates, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE R. DUNNING.

W'itnesses:

JOHN L. Wteelns, JOHN WIoeINs. 

